A few weeks back my step-daughter Colleen was visiting, and she and my 23-year-old son James created our dinner menus by selecting recipes from my latest cookbook, Eat What You Love Quick & Easy. Colleen was thrilled to see that EVERYTHING in the book could easily fit into her diabetes meal plan (with 0 guilt), and James – as he drooled over the photos – was happy to see that his hungry belly would be well fed.
The very first night this oh-so-tasty apple dessert was on their must-make list. Better yet, James jumped in and made it. Yep, HE, made it, not I. And honestly, it looked just like the swoon-worthy picture in the book. The secret? Frozen puff pastry.
Flakey, buttery, frozen puff pastry has long been a staple in my last-minute entertaining arsenal. Admittedly, it’s a high-fat indulgence, yet these apple pie squares clock in at a mere 100 calories, just 15 grams of carb, and only 3 little “points”.
If you’re wondering how this is achieved, the dough is rolled out thinly, making the perfect quick, yet mouthwatering crust, for tender apple slices. This little trick minimizes the amount of pastry in each serving while still offering a wonderfully satisfying dessert that looks, and most of all tastes, like it came from a bakery!
MAKES 12 SERVINGS
1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed (like Pepperidge Farms)
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
3 medium apples, about 1 pound
1/2 medium lemon, juiced
2 tablespoons granulated sugar, divided
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 tablespoons reduced-sugar apricot jam
1. Position the oven rack in the lower third of the oven, and preheat oven to 400°F. Sprinkle the flour on a flat surface and lay the pastry sheet on it. Roll out the pastry lightly to make a 14” x 10” rectangle. Transfer pastry to a baking sheet, and refrigerate while preparing the apples.
2. Peel, core, thinly slice the apples (1/8” thick) and place in a medium bowl. Add the lemon juice and gently toss to coat the apples. Sprinkle the chilled pastry evenly with 1 tablespoon sugar. Arrange the apples over the pastry in rows, slightly overlapping the slices and leaving a 1/2” pastry border around the outer edge.
3. In a small bowl, combine the cinnamon and remaining sugar, and sprinkle over the apples. Bake for 30 minutes, or until golden brown. Remove from oven. In a small microwave-safe bowl, stir the jam with 1 teaspoon of water and heat on high for 15 seconds. Brush over the apples and crust. Cut into 12 squares and serve immediately, or set aside and serve at room temperature.
NOTE: Another name for this dessert is Apple Slab Pie. If you cut the finished pastry in three equal parts on the short side, and four on the long side, you will have 12 3-inch squares. For a “pie” sized serving cut it into 6 portions (and double all of the nutritional information :).
Nutrition Information Per Serving: (1 square) Calories 100 | Carbohydrate 15g (Sugars 7g) | Total Fat 5g (Sat Fat 1g) | Protein 1g | Fiber 1g | Cholesterol 0mg | Sodium 65mg | Food Exchanges: 1/2 Carbohydrate, 1/2 Fruit | Carbohydrate Choices: 1 | Weight Watcher Smart Point Comparison: Green 4, Blue 4, Purple 4
(Note:The calories and sugar for the apples were subtracted out of the nutrition data to properly calculate the Smart Point comparisons.
